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    GATE Exam Timings 2026: Shift Timings, Reporting Time & Exam Duration

    GATE Exam Timings 2026: Shift Timings, Reporting Time & Exam Duration

    RanjeetaUpdated on 14 Feb 2026, 11:43 AM IST

    GATE Exam Timings 2026: IIT Guwahati is conducting the GATE 2026 exam on February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026. Hence, candidates attempting the exam must be aware of the GATE 2026 exam timings. The GATE 2026 exam timings indicate when the exam starts and ends. The GATE exam time duration is three hours (180 minutes) for 65 questions and a total of 100 marks. Candidates are advised to reach the GATE exam centre 1.5 hours before the exam commences for verification and frisking. Candidates must take their seats 40 minutes before the scheduled start of the GATE 2026 exam. They will be permitted to log in and read the instructions 20 min before the GATE starts. Read below for more details on the timing forthe GATE exam 2026.
    Also check: GATE 2026 Exam Day Guidelines and Last-Minute Tips | GATE 2026 Feb 7 Question Paper

    This Story also Contains

    1. GATE Exam Timing 2026
    2. GATE Exam Duration Time 2026
    3. Things to carry for the GATE exam 2026
    4. GATE 2026 Exam Date Branch Wise
    5. Pre-Exam Instructions for GATE 2026
    GATE Exam Timings 2026: Shift Timings, Reporting Time & Exam Duration
    GATE Exam Timings 2026: Shift-wise Schedule, Reporting Time & Duration

    GATE Exam Timing 2026

    Candidates can check the GATE exam timetable to be followed on the day of the exam so that they are not delayed for the exam. The timings for the GATE exam are as follows.

    Contents

    Morning Shift Timing

    Afternoon Shift Timing

    Reporting Time

    8 AM

    1 PM

    Permit to take allotted seats

    8:50 AM

    1:50 PM

    Permit to Login Time9:10 AM2:10 AM
    Exam Starts9:30 AM2:30 PM

    Exam Ends

    12:30 PM

    5:30 PM

    GATE Exam Duration Time 2026

    The time duration for the GATE exam is three hours that is 180 minutes. Candidates must make sure to report at least 90 mins (1.5 hours) before exam time, so that they can complete the mandatory security checks and biometric verification. Also, they must arrive early so that they can log in for instructions, read for 20 minutes before the 09:30 AM or 02:30 PM start times.
    Related- GATE 2026 Dress Code

    Things to carry for the GATE exam 2026

    The GATE exam day instructions allows examinee to carry only a few items inside the exam centre. Check the list of things below.

    • GATE 2026 admit card

    • Original valid photo-identification proof (Passport, PAN Card, Voter ID, Aadhar Card etc).

    • Face Mask

    • Pen

    • Pencil

    • Transparent Water Bottle

    • Pocket-sized hand sanitiser

    GATE 2026 Exam Date Branch Wise

    Check the following table for the day-wise and the branch-wise GATE 2026 exam timing. The authority is holding 30 papers over 4 days in the month of February. The test is being held in two sessions per day.

    Day/DateTime (IST)Test Papers

    Saturday, February 07, 2026

    9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN)

    AG, ES, GG, IN, MA, MN, TF, XE, XL

    2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN)

    AE, BT, CH, CY, GE, PH, XH

    Sunday, February 08, 2026

    9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN)

    CS-1, ST

    2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN)

    CS-2, EY, NM, PE

    Saturday, February 14, 2026

    9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN)

    CE-1, EE, PI

    2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN)

    BM, CE-2, ME, MT

    Sunday, February 15, 2026

    9:30 am to 12:30 pm (Forenoon Session – FN)

    EC

    2:30 pm to 5:30 pm (Afternoon Session – AN)

    AR, DA

    Pre-Exam Instructions for GATE 2026

    Here are a few instructions that candidates must keep in mind before entering the GATE exam hall.

    • Candidates will be allowed to log in 20 minutes before the actual GATE exam 2026 starts, to read the necessary instructions.

    • They will only be allowed to start answering at the specified times, 9:30 AM and 2;30 PM.

    • Candidates will not be allowed to log in 30 minutes after the exam has started.

    • Further, they are not allowed to leave the examination hall until the end of the exam.

    • Candidates will be given Scribble pads for rough work at the exam centre.

    • On the scribble pad, candidates must write their name and registration number. GATE 2026 Feb 7 Question Paper

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    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is the GATE exam timing?
    A:

    The GATE exam timing is 9:30 to 12:30 morning shift and 2;30 to 5:30 PM afternoon shift.

    Q: What is the GATE exam duration?
    A:

    The GATE exam duration is three hours (180 minutes). 

    Q: What is the GATE 2026 exam date?
    A:

    The GATE 2026 exam dates are February 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2026. 

    Q: Is entry allowed after the GATE exam start time?
    A:

    No entry is allowed after the exam start time. 

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    Questions related to GATE

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to GATE ?

    Hi,

    Your scholarship eligibility depends on whether your GATE 2026 score meets the General category qualifying cutoff. If your category could not be changed after the correction window, then you are usually treated as a General category candidate during admission and scholarship processing.

    Generally:
    • If your score is equal

    Hi,

    With a GATE score of 426, you do have a chance of getting MTech Data Science in some NITs , especially through later counselling rounds or in comparatively less competitive NITs. For top NITs, though, Data Science seats can still be quite competitive since it is a popular specialisation.

    Hello Student,

    Getting a seat in Mining Engineering in MBM Jodhpur with 67th percentile as an OBC candidate might be difficult, as the cut off goes around 75-80th percentile.

    What you can do is to go for spot rounds or REAP's last round, provided the seats remain vacant.

    Hello, yes, you can apply for some PSU jobs through your GATE EEE score even if you are studying ECE, but it depends on the eligibility criteria of each PSU recruitment. Some PSUs allow both ECE and EEE candidates for certain posts.

    You can check the latest PSU recruitment updates